How to be a Better Caregiver for Cancer Patients | Josh Bedingfield | TEDxUTAustin
The vast majority of us will become caregivers to someone we love with cancer. Knowing how to help can give our loved ones more precious moments.Driven by his sister’s death to brain cancer, Josh Bedingfield details what he realized during and after his family’s experience supporting Katie through her illness and loss: that chemotherapy and radiation aren’t the only options to help. Social support can better outcomes for cancer patients.Through challenging family moments with brain cancer, processing death, and cycling across the continent, the talk that starts with “I need you right now” shows how social support can fight cancer.Cancer patients need us right now.Josh is deeply passionate about bettering cancer patients' and family outcomes, inspired by his late sister’s journey with Midline Diffuse Glioma, an aggressive and rare form of brain cancer. Josh has worked to improve cancer outcomes through advocacy, fundraising, local and international media, and cycling. At the time of the talk, he was a senior public relations major at UT Austin. Cancer Advocate & Public Relations Specialist
Josh is deeply passionate about bettering cancer patients and family outcomes, inspired by his late sister’s journey with Midline Diffuse Glioma, an aggressive and rare form of brain cancer. Josh has worked to improve cancer outcomes through advocacy, fundraising, digital media, and cycling. He is currently a senior public relations undergraduate at UT Austin from Reading, MA.Josh fundraised $60,000 to cycle 4,000 miles from Austin, TX to Anchorage, AK for cancer research and support services with Texas 4000 for Cancer. During his time with Texas 4000, he created and implemented a new community engagement program, which inspired patients, caregivers, and families to tell their stories with cancer; enabling stronger adaptation of cancer prevention and better adjustment to cancer change in the Cancer Belt, Southeast, Midwest, Northern Rockies, and Alaska. His work and story have been featured in media outlets across North America, including the Austin American-Statesman, Axios, WhiteCourt Star, KPLC, and Moody College. Josh also has conducted cancer history research as a Normandy Scholar, documented his Texas 4000 journey with 38 videos on social media, and is a member of the Friar Society. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
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